Typing rhythm indicator



May 16, 19u44 'G. D. MCMURRY f 2,348,744

TYPING RHYTHM INDICATOR 2v Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 18, 1942 May 16,1944. G, D MCMURRY TYPING RHYTHM INDICATOR Filed June '18, 19.42 2 sheets-sheet 2 Patented May 16, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

This invention relates to a typing rhythm producing and recording system.

In the teaching of typing it has been found desirable that the operator or typist be provided with a predetermined rhythm which may be produced from a phonograph record and which will serve as a beat note for the typist so that the typist may follow such rhythm.

Another object of this invention is to provide in combination with a typewriter or one or more series of typewriters, a recording mechanism which is so constructed and arranged that the instructor will be able by glancing at the record strip to determine the fault of a particular student who is not typing at the desired speed or is not typing with the desired even strokes.

A further object of this invention is to provide a system of this kind which includes means whereby selected typists may be connected with the rhythm producing means, and also optionally connected with the recording apparatus to the exclusion of the other typewriters, and if desired the connection of a particular typewriter with the recording apparatus may be made independent of the rhythm producing means and with or without the knowledge of the typist.

A further object of this invention is to provide a system of this kind which not only provides a visible and permanent recording of the typewriter operation, but also provides a counting mechanism for accumulating the strokes of the type'- Writer so that the speed of the typist can be easily and quickly determined and any fault in rhythmic operation can be detected.

A further object of this invention is to provide in combination with a system of this kind, an improved relay structure which is connected with a" recording means, and which, in operation, will record every stroke of the typewriter keys, and at the same time will record the pauses between each stroke in addition to recording the evenness of each stroke. In other words one portion oi the relay structure will eiect a visible recording of each complete stroke and the time elapsing between the operation or depression of each typewriter key, whereas, another portion of the relay structure will at the same time effect a recording of the actual stroke and thereby show by a visible recording the time which elapses for the completion of each stroke. In this manner it can be determined whether the pause or delay in each stroke is effected between strokes or in a particular part of a stroke.

Another object of this invention is to provide a rhythm producing means which includes a public address apparatus which may be selectively connected with a loudspeaker or with headphones, at each typewriter, so that either the entire group of students may receive the rhythm from the loudspeaker, or selected students may receive the rhythm. During the time that the rhythm is being produced for the entire group of students any selected typewriter may be placed in circuit with the recording apparatus with or without the knowledge of the typist so that the instructor can determine by a visible recording the progress being made by a selected student.

To the foregoing objects, and others which may hereinafter more fully appear, the invention Consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts, as will be more specifically referred to and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, but it is to be understood that changes, variations, and modifications may be resorted to which fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of a typing rhythm system constructed according to an improvement of this invention.

Figure 2 is a detail side elevation of the recording mechanism.

Figure 3 is a detail plan view of the record sheet engaged with the Styli.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional view of the universal bar incorporated with a typewriter and correlated with the recording mechanism.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral I0 designates generally a step-down transformer which is adapted to be connected by means of conductors I I and I2 to a source of electric current supply, and a manually operable switch I3 is interposed in the conductor I2. The transformer I0 includes a primary coil I4 which is connected to the conductors II and I2 and also includes a secondary coil I5 which is inductively related with the primary coil I4. One side of the secondary coil I5 may be connected, as by a conductor I6, to a ground or common conductor and the other side of the secondary coil I5 has connected therewith, a conductor II. A relay, generally designated as I8, has one side thereof connected, as by a conductor I9, to the conductor I'I and the other side of the relay I8 is connected, as by a conductor 2U, to a second relay 2I. The relay I8, upon energization thereof, is adapted to operate a pivoted armature 22 which is mounted at one end on a pivot member'` 23. A spring 24 is connected at one end to the armature 22 and is adapted to constantly urge the armature 22 away from the core 25 of the relay I8. The armature 22 has pivotally connected to the opposite end thereof, a stylus 26 which is disposed in contacting relation with a recording tape or paper strip 21. The strip 21 is preferably operated at a predetermined continuous rate and the marking or indication 2S, is formed on the tape 21 by the stylus 26, upon movement of the stylus 25, coincident with the movement of the armature 22.

The relay 2| has connected to the opposite side thereof a conductor 29 and the conductor 2G is connected by means of conductors 3|) and 3| to contacts 32 and 33. The contacts 32 and 33 each form one side of a typewriter operated switch structure and the other side of the typewriter operated switch structure is formed by the universal bar 34 which forms a part of a conventional typewriter and which is rocked vertically at each stroke or operation of a typewriter key. The contact 33 has associated therewith a universal bar 35 and the two universal bars 34 and 35 are connected by means of conductors 36 and 31 to a common ground conductor 38 having a manually operable switch 39 interposed therein. The conductor 38 is connected at the opposite end thereof to the ground wire I9. The conductor 39 has interposed therein a manually operable switch 39 which is adapted to engage a contact 49 connected by means of a conductor 4| to the conductor 29. The conductor 3| has interposed therein, a manually operable switch 42 which is engageable with a contact 43 connected by a conductor 44 to the conductor 29. The switch member 39 also includes a second contact 45 which is connected by means of a conductor 46 to a conductor 41. The latter conductor 41 is connected to the conductor I9 and through this conductor to the conductor |1. The conductor 46 has interposed therein a pilot light 48 which is adapted to be energized upon engagement of the switch member 39 with the contact 45. The switch member 42 also includes a second stationary contact 49 which is connected by means of a conductor 50 to the conductor 41 and a pilot light 5| is interposed in the conductor 5B. Closing of the switch including the switch arm 42 and the contact 49, will energize the pilot light 5|. The two universal bars 34 and 35 form one series of a plurality of typewriters which may be of any desired number and a second series of typewriters embodying universal bars 52 and 53 are also adapted to be connected with the relay E8. The conductor 38 has connected therewith a ground conductor 54 which is connected by conductors 55 and 55 to the universal bars 52 and 53 respectively. A stationary contact 51 is associated with the universal bar 52 and a stationary contact 53 is associated with the universal bar 53. A manually operable switch 59 is interposed in the conductor 54 so that the ground wire 54 may be disconnected from the ground 38.

The contact 51 has connected thereto one end of a conductor 60 and the opposite end of the conductor 5|) is connected to a switch arm 5|. A contact G2 is disposed in the path of the switch arm 6| and the contact 62 is connected by a conductor 63 to the conductor 29. A second stationary contact 64 is correlated with the switch arm 6| and is connected by means of a conductor 65 to the conductor 41. A pilot light 56 is interposed in the conductor |35 and is adapted to be energized when the switch arm 5| closes the electric circuit to the contact 54.

The stationary contact 58 is connected by means of a conductor B1 to a manually operable switch arm 59 and a contact 69 is adapted to be engaged by a switch arm G8 in one position thereor" for closing an electric circuit from the stationary contact 58 through the conductor 61, switch arm 68, contact 69 and conductor 1U to the conductor 29. A second stationary contact 1| is correlated with the switch structure including the arm 63 and the contact 59 and is connected by means of a conductor 12 to the conducto-r 41. A pilot light 13 is interposed in the conductor 12.

The relay 2| has correlated therewith a movable armature 14 which is pivotally mounted, as at 1t', and is adapted to be drawn toward the core it of the relay 2i against the tension of a spring 11 when the relay 2| is energized. The armature 14 constitutes a relay switch and is held normally by means of the spring 11 in engagement with a fixed contact 18. The contact 18 is connected, by means of a conductor 19, to a rectifier of conventional construction which is connected by means of a conductor 8| to the conductor |1. The armature 14 is connected by means of a conductor 32 to one side of an electrical discharge condenser 33 of conventional construction and the other side of the discharge condenser 83` is connected by a conductor 84, to another side of the rectier BU. A further side of the rectifier 80 connected by means of a conductor 85 to the ground which may be the conductor I8.

rilhe conductor 84 is connected by means of a conductor 86 to one side of a relay 81 and the other side of the relay 81 is connected by means oi a conductor 8S to a stationary contact 89 which is disposed in the path of the movement of the armature 14 when the armature 14 ls drawn toward the core 16 of the relay 2|. At the time the armature 14 is drawn toward the core 15 oi the relay 2| the electric circuit from the rectifier 89 to the discharge condenser 83 will be broken and at this time the discharge condenser 93 will be placed in a closed circuit with the relay B1 by engagement ol the armature 14 with the contact 89. The closing of the circuit which includes the condenser 83, conductor 82, armature i4, contact 89, conductor 88, relay 81, conductor St and conductor 84, will energize the relay 81 and draw toward the core 90 of this relay a spring pressed armature 9| which is ipivoted as at 92. The armature 9| is constantly urged away from the core by means oi a spring 93. The armature 9| has connected to the free end thereof, one end of a second stylus S4 which is disposed in overlying position with respect to the tape or recording strip 21 and is adapted to mark an indication 95 on the tape 21 in laterally spaced parallel relation with respect to the indication 28.

In order to provide a means whereby the instructor may signal a student so that the student will know he is to make a recording of the performance of his typewriter, I have provided a signal light 95 which is adapted to be positioned closely adjacent a typewriter and has one side thereof connected as by a conductor 91 to the ground. The other side 0f the light 96 is connected by a conductor 98 to a stationary contact 99 which is contacted by a spring-pressed switch arm |09 pivoted as at |9| and constantly urged away from the contact S9 by means of a spring |52. The arm IGI] is formed with a hook |03 on which a pair of earphones |il4` are adapted to 'oe hung and the weight of the earphones |04. will hold the switch arm |00 in engagement with the contact 99 against the tension of the spring |02. One side o the earphones |04 is oonnectedby means of a conductor |05 to the ground and the other side of the earphones |04 is connected by means of a conductor |06 to a stationary contact |01 disposed in opposite relation to the .contact 99 and in aposition for engagement with the switch arm when the earphones |04 are lifted from the hook |03 and the arm |00 is moved upwardly by the spring |02. The switch arm |00 is connected by means of a conductor |08 to a manually operable switch |09 which -includes a stationary contact ||0 connected by means of a conductor to a stationary contact ||2. The contact ||2 is disposed in the path of the movement of the combined armature and switch member ||3, which is adapted to be drawn toward a relay core ||4 forming part of the relay ||5. One side of the relay ||5 is connected by means of a conductor |l6 to the conductor 41 and the other side of the relay ||5 is connected by means of a conductor ||1 tc the armature I3. The` armature ||3 is constantly urged to a circuit breaking position with respect to the contact ||2 by means of a spring ||8. The conductor has interposed therein a signal or pilot light |.|9 which is adapted to be energized when the circuit is closed, by engagement of the armature ||3 with the contact ||2, and closing of the switch, including the switch arm |09 and the contact ||0.

A second signal light |20 is adapted to be correlated with one of the second series of typewriters and it will of course, be understood that each typewriter, which is fragmentarily shown by the universal typewriter bar, is adapted to have a signal light 96 or |20 disposed closely adjacent thereto so that the student operating the typewriter will be able to determine when his particular typewriter is in the testing or recording circuit. The signal light |20 is connected by means of a conductor |2| to the ground and by a conductor |22 to a stationary contact |23. The stationary contact |23 is engaged by means of a pivoted switch arm |24 having a hook |25 on which a pair of earphones |26 are adapted to be disposed. One side of the earphones |26 is connected to the ground by means of a conductor |21 and the other side of the earphones |26 is connected by means of the conductor |28 to a contact |29 opposing the contact |23 on the opposite side of the switch arm |24. A spring |30 is engaged with the arm |24 and is adapted, upon lifting of the phones |26 from the hook |25, to swing the arm |24 into engagement with the contact |29. An arm |24 is connected by means of a conductor |3| to a manually operated switch |32 having correlated therewith stationary contact |33 which is connected with the conductor In order to provide a means whereby the strokes of the typewriter may be accurately counted, in addition to being recorded on the tape 28, I have provided an electrically operated counter |34 of conventional construction which has one side thereof connected as by a conductor |35 to conductor 29. The other side of the counter |34 is connected by means of a conductor |36 to the conductor 38 thereby to ground |6 and a manually operable switch |31 is interposed in the conductor |36.

It will be understood that the apparatus 'nereinbefore described is adapted to be positioned in a class room having rows or series of typewriters any one of which may be placed in circuit with the recording and signalling structure. The student operating the typewriter which is under test may be given a musical rhythm through the medium o an ampliier or public address unit, generally designated as |38. The unit |38 is of conventional construction and is connected, as by conductors |39 and |49, to a source of electric current supply and a switch |4| is interposed in the conductor |40. The amplifying or public address unit |38 includes phonograph connections |42 and |43, radio connections |44 and |45 and microphone connections |46 and |41. The unit |138 has output conductors |48 and |49 connected to the output side thereof, and the conductor |48 is connected to a pair of switches |50 and |5|. The switch |50 is connected at one side thereof by a conductor |52 to the conductor |08 and by the conductor |53 to the conductor |48. The conductor |49 is connected to a pair of manually operable switches |54 and |55 and the switch |54 is connected to the conductor |98. The switch |55 is connected to a cornmon connecting conductor |53 which connects the movable switch arms of the switches |32, |51 and E55 together. When the switch |54 is closed one side of the amplifier |38 is connected to the signal light 96 and to the earphones |04 when the earphones |34 have been lifted from the hook |03. When the switch |55 is closed the signal light iii! will be lighted initially and the earphones |26 will be in circuit with the amplifier |38 when the earphones |26 have been lifted from the hook |25. The ampliiier unit |38 has a ground connection $52I and is also provided with a loud speaker conductor |53 which is connected to one side of a loud speaker |59. A manually operated switch |60 is interposed in the conductor |58, and the other side of the loud speaker 59 is connected by a conductor to the ground.

'In the use and operation of this system the switch i3 is initially closed to energize the transformer i9. The tape 21 is operated continuously by mechanism (not shown) and as an example the ground switch 39 is moved to a closed position for grounding one series of typewriters. The switch member 39 may be moved to a position engaging the contact 40 thereby closing an electric circuit from the ground side of the transformer l0 through the conductor 38, conductor 36, through the switch structure 3?. and 34, conductor 36, switch member 39, conductor 29 to the relay 2i and from the conductor 20 to the re lay I8 and then from the relay I8 through the conductor I9 to the conductor l1. When the universal bar 34 is rocked by operation of the typewriter keys, the bar 34 will contact with the stationary contact 32. This will close the circuit to the relays 2| and I8. When the relay I8 is energized the stylus 26 will be moved and will be held in its shifted position so long as the universal bar 34 contacts with the contact 32. This will form dashes between the transverse indications on the tape 21. At the same time where the stylus 26 is being shifted by the relay I8 the energization of the relay 2| will close the circuit to the relay 81. This is eiected by er1-.- gagement of the armature 14 with the contact 89 thus closing a complete circuit from the electrical discharge condenser 83 through conductor 82, condenser 83, conductor 84 and conductor 8S to one side of the relay 01. The other side of the relay 81 is connected with the condenser 83 by the conductor 88 through contact 89, armature 14 and conductor 82. The current built up in the condenser 83 will be exhausted as soon as the relay 81 is energized and at this time the armature 9| will be moved toward the core 90, thus shifting the stylus S4. The indication or marking formed by the stylus Sli will be substantially triangular markings at one side and if there is any pause between the operation of the typewriter keys there will be straight lines on the tape 21 parallel with the longitudinal edges thereof which are caused by the continuous movement of the tape 21. The particular typewriter which is selected for testing may be selected unknown to the typist, or, if desired, the instructor may signal a particular typist by closing the switch formed by the arm |09 and the contact i0. The signal light 96 may then be lighted by manually moving the armature ||3 into engagement with the contact H2. This will energize the relay ||5 while at the same time the lamp 96 will be lighted. The selected typist will then remove the earphones HM from the hook |03 and may receive the typing rhythm from the public address unit |38. The particu- `lar rhytlbrn may be either produced from a phonograph or radio, and where the rhythm is produced from a phonograph, the switch |54 is moved to a closed position and the rhythm will flow the public address unit |38, through conductor |49, switch |54, conductor |08, to switch arm |00 which at this time is in engagement with the contact |01 and from the contact |01 through conductor |06, earphones |04 and conductor |05 to the ground. To send rhythm through earphones |04 by radio or by microphone, switch |50 will be closed to energize conductor |48 from the public address unit |38, through point |53, through switch arm |50, through conductor |52, through conductor |08 thereby to earphones |04.

With a system of this kind, any selected typist may be placed under a test for determining the evenness of his typing, or if desired, the entire series or several series of typists may be given a rhythm through the loud speaker |59 when the switch |60 is closed. If it is desired at any time to determine the speed of a selected typist, the switch |31 may be closed, thus closing the electric circuit from the conductor |36 which is connected to the ground I6 through conductor 38, and conductor |35 is connected to conductor 29 so that when any one machine is operating on meter, when the switch arm |31 is closed. the counter will operate. The counter |34 will register the individual typing strokes, so that after a predetermined period of time, the number registered on the counter can be calculated to determine the number of words written by the selected typist.

What I claim is:

In combination, an electric circuit, a typewriter, a switch interposed in said circuit and connected to said typewriter for operation by the latter, a pair of Styli, a movable tape correlated with said styli, an electric operator for each stylus interposed in said circuit and operable upon closing of the switch by operation of said typewriter to effect actuation of said styli to thereby form on said tape visible recordings of the typewriter operation and means connected with one of said operators for automatically deenergizing said one operator after the latter has been momentarily energized whereby one stylus will produce a recording' different from the other stylus and a relay connected to said one operator for controlling the latter and in series with the other operator.

GLENN D. McMURR-Y. 

